Reasons the US wanted the territories of Hawaii, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philipines ?

Question

Please name and explain

Answer 1

Resources like Bananas, sugar pineapples rubber etc.
Military bases. Hawaii in the middle of the Pacific(pearl Harbour), Cuba in the middle of the Spanish Main, Puerto Rico another Naval choke point on access to Carribean and Panama, Phlipines give Naval access and control of South ChinaSea and East Indies and South East Asia. The military reasons are at least as important as the business reasons. Djibouti is an economic disaster but must be kept for control over the south end of the Suez Canal via the Red Sea. If you look around the globe you will find many more places that make no sense untill you look at naval power and shipping choke points. Places like the Falkland Islands held by the UK. The Straights of Gibralter, Istanbul and the Dardenelles, the Korean Peninsula, The Island of Sakhalin(Russian) or Copenhagen. I know, more info than needed, but think strategic naval power.

Answer 2

Hawaii was all about money. The Hawaiian monarchy were about to pass a new constitution that would only give the vote to those who held a certain amount of land (freezing out the American businessmen from being able to influence local politics). A group of businessmen (American) approached the then US president for help. A detachment of US marines were put ashore and a 'bloodless coup' conducted (although there is some doubt as to how bloodless, and whether the marines had specific orders to facilitate 'regime change' or just got caught up in the mess). So, purely so American businessmen could control a soverign nation (Actually sovereign, as the Queen of Hawaii had been formally recognised by the UK).
The Philippines was a score from the US Spanish war. The Philippinos were intially very happy as they thought they had won freedom from a colonial power. Unfortunately the US president at the time WAS interested in colonial expansion in the Pacific to compete with European holdings, especially in China (see also the Perry incident in Japan).
So much for a country that claims never to have had colonial aspirations. To me the ultimate conceit was granting the Philippines independance (from the US) on the 4th of July to coincide with the US independence day. How low can you go?

Answer 3

Boxer said it best!The fact remains that only Puerto rico is still a colonia! Shamefull.

Answer 4

military installations. Protect the U.S.

Answer 5

Spanish-American War -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish-American_War

Hawaii -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Territory_of_Hawaii

Cuba -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuba

Philipines -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines

Puerto Rico -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico

Answer 6

military bases for protection of USA.....strategic power

Answer 7

Increase their empire.